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    Home » Instant Pot 101

    The Ultimate Guide to Instant Pot Steamed Vegetables

    January 6, 2023 . By Meeta Arora . 19 Comments | This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    Steamed mixed vegetables in the instant pot
    How to steam vegetables in your instant pot

    Along with all of the amazing meals and desserts you can cook in the Instant Pot, there are tons of simple things you can do with it as well. Whether it be carrots, asparagus, green beans, or pumpkin, you can perfectly steam almost any vegetable in the Instant Pot!

    How to steam vegetables in your instant pot

    Why cook your veggies in the Instant Pot?

    • It helps retain nutrients. Boiling veggies, often carrots and broccoli, tends to result in them being drained of their nutritional value. Using the Instant Pot means you can choose specific times and settings for different vegetables, allowing you to properly cook the veggies, but still keep them healthy!
    • It's super quick! Many of these recipes take under 15 minutes.
    • It's a no-fail, dump & go process. You don't need to monitor the veggies as they cook, or worry about over/under cooking! Hassle-free, perfect for those of you with super busy schedules.
    • In case the above points didn't convince you enough, take it from me; you'll get perfectly cooked veggies every time!

    Learn more about the instant pot pot-in-pot method with this comprehensive guide!

    Cook starchy vegetables such as potatoes and corn, or cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower, with ease. It's as simple as adding a cup of liquid, adding your veggies, sealing the lid and forgetting about them!

    It's super convenient to use the trivet that comes with the Instant Pot as a steamer basket. I also recommend an additional steamer basket, which makes holding the veggies in place easier. I prefer stainless steel ones, but you can find silicone steamer racks too.

    You can use these steamer racks for steaming, but also in some recipes if you are trying to cook multiple things together at once.

    It is a best practice to keep the veggies from touching the bottom. This is because the steam function heats very quickly. If you put vegetables in the bottom of the steel insert, touching the water, they will boil and may get overcooked.

    The bottom line is that steaming vegetables in the Instant Pot takes much less time than cooking in the oven or on a stove top. It also requires less "babysitting", so you can leave them to cook while you tend other things! It is a great, time saving hack.

    You might also enjoy - The ultimate guide to air fryer vegetables

    Also be sure to check out how I steam a vegetable medley in the Instant Pot at the bottom of this post!

    Download vegetable cooking time chart for instant pot

    Cauliflower

    Perfectly Steamed Cauliflower in the Instant Pot

    Cut a head of cauliflower into small florets, or leave it whole. Either way, it will be done in a instant! Cauliflower pairs well with lots of meals, and is easy to season however you'd like.

    CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RECIPE

    Green Beans

     
    Steamed green beans with garlic and lemon on a platter

    Perfectly steamed Instant Pot Green Beans have a fresh, crunchy texture, and are so easy to make! Saute with butter and garlic, drizzle on some lemon juice, and they make a delicious side dish for any meal.

    CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RECIPE

    Broccoli

    Steamed Broccoli Instant Pot Pressure Cooker

    Steaming broccoli helps retain its nutrients, and also gives it a well done texture; not too chewy, and not mushy either. The process is so quick and this method retains the color of the veggies.

    CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RECIPE

    Corn on the Cob

    Corn on the cob slathered with butter and garnished with parsley

    This Instant pot Corn on the Cob is sweet, juicy, tender crisp, and so easy to cook in the pressure cooker. Season to taste and serve as an appetizer, snack, or side dish!

    CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RECIPE

    Beets

    Instant Pot Beets - After steaming

    Whether you use them in a recipe like my favorite Beet Rice Pilaf, or eat them plain, beets are a true super food- they are full of antioxidants and vitamins! They cook very well in the Instant Pot, and the skin will peel off with ease when they are done.

    CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RECIPE

    Potatoes

    Steaming potatoes in Instant Pot Pressure Cooker

     

    There's some controversy to whether or not potatoes actually count as a vegetable... but they are such a favorite, I can't leave them out! They bring heartiness to any meal. Boil them in the Instant Pot to get this wonderful well done texture, and then use them however you'd like!

    CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RECIPE

     Sweet Potato

    Creamy Sweet potatoes topped with butter in a white plate ion front of the instant pot

    Sweet potatoes are a favorite in my family. When they are done, they have a creamy "roasted" texture that is good enough to eat on it's own. You can also use them as a more nutritious substitute for regular potatoes in other recipes.

    CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RECIPE

    Baby Potato

    Closeup of Steamed Baby Potatoes Instant Pot

    Kid friendly, bite sized, and easy to customize, Baby Potatoes are perfect to serve as a side with almost any meal. You can even turn them into Spicy Bombay Potatoes!

    CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RECIPE

    Carrots

    Steamed Carrots - Instant Pot

    Carrots have too many health benefits for me to even list! Full of beta carotene, vitamins, and minerals, cook carrots in the Instant Pot with ease, while still retaining their nutritious values. Cut them into 1-inch pieces and cook them for 2 minutes, or keep them whole and set the pressure cooker to 4 minutes. You can also turn them into to a tasty side dish of Garlic and Herb Carrots!

    CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RECIPE

    Pumpkin

    Pumpkin Puree Instant Pot Pressure Cooker 1

    Pumpkin is by far one of the easiest vegetables to cook in the Instant Pot! You don't even have to peel or prep it in any way. It's a super easy way to make puree for pumpkin pie, or baby food. Check out all the tips to get the perfect pumpkin puree!

    CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RECIPE

    Artichokes

    whole artichokes in instant pot

    Learn how to steam whole artichokes by Simply Happy Foodie. She shares all the tips of how to buy artichokes and steam them to perfection in the instant pot.

    CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RECIPE

    Brussels Sprouts

    Brussels sprouts cooked in the instant pot

    Recipes from a pantry has this tasty recipe for quick and easy instant Pot Brussels Sprouts! They are seasoned perfectly, and will have the perfect texture when done.

    CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RECIPE

    Asparagus

    Cooked Asparagus on a white plate

    Learn how to cook perfectly crisp and tender asparagus in the Instant Pot every time with this easy and fail-proof recipe by Real+Vibrant!

    CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RECIPE

    Vegetable Medley

    Now that we have seen how to perfectly cook each vegetable in the instant pot, let's see how you can cook a medley of vegetables.

    Add all the veggies which have the same cooking time in a steamer basket. I added broccoli, cauliflower, green beans and sliced carrots. All of these veggies steam perfectly in "0" minutes in the instant pot!

    Note: "0" minutes is not a typo. Instant pot allows you to set this time, and the veggies cook well in the time it takes for the pot to come to pressure.

    Mixed vegetables in a steamer basket in the instant pot

    You only want to cook the veggies that pressure cook in the same time together. For example, I would not try to steam broccoli and potatoes together.

    Can I use frozen vegetables?

    I used fresh vegetables in all the recipes above. You can use frozen too, and I suggest to try the same cooking time. The instant pot just takes a bit longer to come to pressure.

    Tips for perfectly cooked Instant Pot Vegetables

    1. Use a trivet or steamer basket.
    2. Cut veggies into equal pieces, to ensure all pieces are cooked the same. Also, only cut veggies if necessary.
    3. Don't forget to add water at the bottom of the pot which is required to create the steam.
    4. No fork hole-piercings are needed for starchy vegetables - perks of using an Instant Pot!
    a medley of steamed vegetables in a steamer basket

    Instant Pot Vegetable Cooking Time Chart

    I have created an easy printable chart for cooking times for vegetables in the instant pot. Click below to download it!

    Download vegetable cooking time chart for instant pot

    Check out my Instant Pot Basics Series for more easy recipes:

    • Perfect 1-minute Quinoa
    • Brown Basmati Rice
    • How to cook Chickpeas
    Tried this recipe?Give a rating by clicking the ★ below
    a medley of steamed vegetables in a steamer basket

    Instant Pot Steamed Vegetable Medley

    Meeta Arora
    Learn how to perfectly steam vegetables in the instant pot using this easy no-fail method. The veggies are cooked to perfection, and are not mushy with the instant pot zero minute magic!
    4.89 from 18 votes
    Print Save Saved! Pin
    Servings: 2
    Calories: 50
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten-free, Vegan
    Method: Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker
    Prep Time: 5 mins
    Cook Time: 10 mins
    Total Time: 15 mins

    Equipment

    • Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 cup Broccoli cut in equal size florets
    • 1 cup Cauliflower cut in equal size florets
    • ½ cup Carrots sliced to small pieces
    • ½ cup Green Beans cut in 2 inch pieces or whole
    • 1 cup Water for instant pot
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Add water to the instant pot insert. Place the steamer basket in the instant pot insert.
    • Spread the veggies on the steamer basket. Close lid with vent in sealing position.
    • Start the instant pot and set it on Steam mode for 0 minutes on high pressure. (Note: if you like softer vegetables, increase cooking time to 1 minute)
    • When the instant pot beeps, quick release the pressure manually. Remove the steamer basket carefully as it is hot.
    • Season with salt, pepper and enjoy!

    Notes

    Cutting Veggies: Cut veggies into equal pieces, to ensure all pieces are cooked the same. Also, only cut veggies if necessary.
    Pressure Release: It is important to quick release the pressure right after the beep, so the veggies don't overcook. 

    Note: Nutrition values are my best estimates. If you rely on them for your diet, use your preferred nutrition calculator.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 50kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 3gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 54mgPotassium: 454mgFiber: 4gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 5819IUVitamin C: 70mgCalcium: 53mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword how to steam vegetables in instant pot, instant pot steamed vegetables
    Tried this recipe?Share your photo and tag @PipingPotCurry or #pipingpotcurry
    Download vegetable cooking time chart for instant pot

    More Instant Pot Basics Recipes & Tips

    • 3 Ingredient Instant Pot Applesauce
    • Instant Pot Cookbooks
    • The Ultimate Guide to Pot-In-Pot Cooking with Instant Pot
    • Instant Pot Wild Rice Blend
    4.9K shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. 출장안마 says

      February 05, 2023 at 3:53 am

      I have been given a load of bramley apples that i want to stew for pies and crumbles. 과천출장샵 I have a ninja foodi mini. Any guidance on time per lb to pressure cook would be very welcome. Would like chunks of apples in it not total mush

      Reply
    2. 출장안마 says

      February 04, 2023 at 9:07 pm

      I used fresh vegetables in all the recipes above. You can use frozen too, and I suggest to try the same cooking time. The insta남양주출장샵nt pot just takes a bit longer to come to pressure.

      Reply
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    Meeta Arora of Piping Pot Curry

    I strongly believe that each one of us has a chef inside us, we just need to explore the ingredients and create great food. Here you will find easy & delicious recipes using Instant Pot & Air Fryer.

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